Setting the Superman Seinfeld Record Straight
My fellow Seinfeld fans, there is a myth that has been perpetuated too long. You know the one I’m talking about. Heck, in weaker times even I succumbed to its sweet siren song. 
But the myth is wrong, no matter how many think otherwise. It’s time to set the record straight.
The myth states that every Seinfeld episode contains a reference to Superman. It’s not true, no matter how generous you are in allowing vague references.
There are multiple episodes, but The Subway is a good example. I’ve watched the episode and checked the script. There are no references to Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Smallville, Kryptonite.
The facts are that Seinfeld is a fan of Superman and the topic comes up frequently in the show. The Superman magnet and figurine weren’t added to Jerry’s apartment until Season 4 and 5, respectively, and not all episodes even show the apartment.
So there you have it. The myth is dispelled.
Update: 7 Mar 2012 Reddit linked here and a few folks claimed the reference could be so obscure it would be missed by mere mortals. To that I say, pssssha. Such a claim shouldn’t require a Supermanologist (Supermanician?) to confirm it, and a stubborn adherence to a myth rather than dealing with the facts does not make it true.
I’m not one to be deterred by unreasonable claims of obscurity, so I’ll introduce you to Barry Frieman at supermanhomepage.com where he wrote an article about this very topic. I quote, “…an urban legend has sprung up that Jerry snuck a reference to the Man of Steel in every episode of NBC’s Must-See comedy juggernaut, ‘Seinfeld’, which aired from 1989 to 1998. Not true.” (emphasis mine) I rest my case.
If you still aren’t convinced, what’s the reference to Superman in “The Subway” episode?
Ok i think they were saying that superman is in every episode in some way, jerry has a superman doll on his bookshelf for instance
@Joiline Yes, that’s what they were saying, but they’re wrong. As I wrote above, “not all episodes even show the apartment.”
Also, in Jerry’s apartment is a picture of superman on his refrigerator- which is in the subway episode. So this is incorrect.
I think the Subway one does disprove the myth. I’m a freelance video editor with good attention to detail. I watched this episode paying close attention to details like the graffiti, newspapers and posters. All would have been easy places to sneak in a reference. I didn’t see anything conclusive as a Superman reference. I did notice one bit of red graffiti with very pronounced S’s but that can’t really be counted.
Now I didn’t frame by frame it or anything, I’ll leave that to someone with OCD if they’re really up to the challenge.
@Samantha Nope, the episode never shows his apartment. That’s the first thing you check ;)
Sometimes there is no “visible” superman ( as shown with the figurine and refrigerator magnet. However, the episodes where the apartment is not even shown – the characters ( jerry, elaine, etc…) immitate the acting ( kinda cornballish ) that was done in the early superman episodes ( and yes, probably other movies or shows of that time ). So the acting itself is the shows way of maintaining a superman feeling in all of the seinfeld episodes.
@squirrel69 You’re really reaching now. I don’t understand what makes people so willing to believe a myth, then cling to the myth when presented with conflicting facts. What makes you so sure every episode has a Superman reference, so much so you feel the need to make up reasons? What’s so bad about there being a lot of Superman references in the show but not every last episode?
If you purchase the DVD they actually say in the extras that there is in fact a Visible reference to superman or they discuss superman but yes it is in every episode and sometimes it is a reach. The PEOPLE PERPETUATING this are the writers of Seinfeld not some random internet thing.
For example in, The Puerto Rican Day” (1998) – Jerry uses the alias “Kal Varnson
@Katie That’s interesting and makes it seem more official, but I have yet to see anyone point out Superman references in the episodes we’ve discussed here. Those of us (including Superman experts) who have watched these episodes looking for a reference have come up empty. When presented with an absolute statement, a single exception disproves it.
Ahhh, tsk tsk… You just haven’t looked at it with X-ray vision.
You see, */the subway itself/* is a Superman reference.
In that celebrated blockbuster epic masterpiece of cinematography, “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace,” recall that Superman has to stop a runaway subway train after its driver suddenly loses consciousness while at the controls. Supes thereby saves Lois’s life (followed by a brief statement to onlookers to remember that “public transit is still our safest and most reliable means of transportation!”).
How much clearer a reference do you need?!! :-D
@MisterAhole (a more apt name I’ve never seen) That was the single best response I’ve seen to this debate. I take my hat off to you sir. Would you care to have a go at The Chinese Restaurant or The Parking Garage?
You sir…are incorrect. Check your facts. The myth is that Superman is seen OR referenced in every episode. And by seen that mean could be as simple as the “S” logo as a pin on someone’s lapel or something small like that. So yes, you are wrong.
@Billy Methinks you don’t know a joke when you see one.
Billy… No, he is not wrong. I’ve long doubted the veracity of this myth and I’ve done my own research. I can confirm all of Dan’s points here. There are *zero* Superman references, pictures, etc. in some episodes. Watch The Subway again. Where is Superman? Where is the “S” shield? Where is it? If you can point it out to me, I will concede. But I’m guessing that’s never going to happen.
So no, you are the one who is wrong.
Here’s the thing, Billy. When you believe something so strongly that you’re willing to tell someone they’re wrong about it when they are equipped with a great deal of demonstrable facts and a comprehensive knowledge of the subject and you’re backed by nothing but your intransigence you’re in a bad place. You don’t have to believe things people tell you. You can do the research yourself if you really want to know that badly. If you don’t care about the truth then by all means go ahead. Me, I like to believe true things and not false things whenever possible. I don’t want to believe false things because that is foolish and I am not a fool. I think it’s time to rethink the way you’ve been living.
C’mon. It’s so simple! Seinfeld starts with S as does Superman therefore every episode has a reference to Superman ;-)
@Jason An interesting theory ;)
I think your all OCD
@Vince I realize this only confirms the diagnosis, but it should be you’re. :)
You’re all ridiculous for spending so much time on this subject. What the hell is a “Superman expert”?? Hahaha.
One could say the same of spending your valuable time commenting on this subject. ;)
People don’t have to say “EVERY SIGLE EPISODE” they say “most of all the episodes” so there could be 1 or 2 that do not have a SUPERMAN refrence. And people dont have to look so much into it like saying that there is a subway in seinfield and…OH look at that there is a subway in superman too…WOW.
I just watched S3E19, George and Jerry take Donald O’Brien’s limo. no superman reference at all.
@Dan In the Chinese Restaurant, George references Batman. Doesn’t Batman have to do with Superman?
@Johnny That’s a stretch, but I will admit they have a tenuous connection. Nicely done :)
For the Parking Garage episode, when Jerry goes to pee behind the car the script actually calls for Jerry to “looks around like Superman, and lets fly”. It’s in there:)
Hah! That’s awesome that they wrote it into the script. How the heck does Superman look around differently than anyone else? What about the Subway episode? I see no mention of Superman in the script ;)
even though some episodes don’t have references or a hidden superman somewhere on the episode, (mostly season 1-4) Red and blue clothing are often worn on the show by either jerry,george,or Elaine and sometimes all together. that is jerry’s hidden hint to superman when there is no quotes or appearences. Superman Wears red and Blue!
@mike Did Jerry ever say this or are you making it up?
No Jerry Seinfeld has never said this, am i making it up the fact of the appearenses of red and blue clothing on the show no. I am just guessing that is jerry’s hidden superman hint. Jerry has never came out in public and said in anyway that there is a superman appearence in every show. After appearing so many times on Seinfeld tv, fans came up with the idea and the myth that superman is in every show. Every episode of Season’s 5-9 have definitely a hint of superman with either quotes,the statue,or one of the two magnets. Season 1-4 have 20 episodes out of 64 with either a quote and the magnet in season 4. So superman isn’t in every show, but if you want to include the colors of superman worn in the non superman shows, you can believe in the myth or not if you want to.
Every scene has the culmination of blue yellow and orange somewhere. That is the reference and they play on the superman references to make it more obvious at times, you notice it so much more when you’re really high
@MisterAhole…..bravo. yes, best comment I’ve seen….sorry @Dan. seems you shouldn’t be so skeptic. open your heart a little:)
Sorry for necroposting, but I just found this blog post, and went straight to watch The Subway episode. Altough I’m highly sceptical about the fact that there is a Superman reference in every single episode, I do find it funny that there is references in many of them. And as I watched this episode you asked, it didn’t take me long to realise that it in fact holds a reference to Superman. (And please bear in mind that I’m far, far from an expert in Superman trivia – I personally have never liked the guy. The Phantom is the shit, really.)
In the Subway episode Jerrys story is all about going on a roller coaster called Coney Island Cyclone – or just “The Cyclone”. So what about the connection between Superman and Cyclone? Well, here we have it: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFg3NDY=/z/VkYAAOSwnDxUib9F/$_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F
or, if you don’t like toys, what about Justice Society of America? : https://dcomixologyssl.sslcs.cdngc.net/i/0290/4694/4cbdb70c352ca.jpg?h=159f120d00ba125b70df822d1fd307a8
Both Superman and Cyclone does appear here. Coincidence? Perhaps. Cool one, nonetheless.
Perhaps a far stretch, but hey, that what’s references are about, right?
@Tomas Hah! You have stretched the connection so far, even Superman himself wouldn’t be able to reach it :)
[…] Superman magnet on the fridge and statue on the bookshelf (there’s much debate about whether every single episode actually features some reference, however obscure, to the […]
Your a f—ing faggot Dan. I found this while researching this theory and just think your like a George-like person in their late 30s living with his parents and who doesn’t have anything better to do besides be a dick.
Thanks for the laugh. Just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it. :)
In the first season of the Superman show, episode “No Holds Barred”, an Indian swami was teaching a wrestler pressure point moves to paralyse opponents. The swami warned them if they were using these moves to hurt people that they were “Bad men, Bad Men” with the index finger waving back and forth. Just like Babu.
Tha “superman” “icon” is commonly known to those who r supposedly “politically” & “socially” conscious as tha symbol of IMPERIALISM. .. imperialism being tha highest stage of capitalism…lenin an eastern communist (bolshevik) jew states…point being Seinfeld is Jewish in a western country controlled by jews, western capitalist (zionists) jews use tha superman icon as a sign that capitalism/imperialism is indestructible…refernce tha elian Gonzalez statue in Cuba…
Watched the Subway episode for Superman. Still looking. Will keep trying lol. But I DID see George’s future fiancé Susan’s dad sipping coffee at the bar in the diner over George’s shoulder as an extra. Maybe his real name is Clark?